Editing The Mitteler Rebbe (section)

== Life History ==
{{Chabad}}
After 14 years of marriage during which only daughters were born, his father, [[the Alter Rebbe]], traveled to his Rebbe, [[the Maggid of Mezritch]], for a bracha for a son. The Maggid promised that if he would excel in hachnosas orchim (hospitality), he would merit a son, hinting to this from the possuk "Bameh yizakeh naar - es archo<ref>Tehillim 119, 9</ref>" (how shall a young man merit - through his ways/guests).

On the final Shabbos of the Maggid's life, Parshas Vayishlach 5533, he revealed to the Alter Rebbe the inner meanings of the "Shalom Zachar" and "Vach Nacht" ceremonies, promising him a son whom he should name after him (DovBer).

One year later, on 9 Kislev 5534, DovBer was born, the Alter Rebbe's first son. At his birth, his father provided a special piece of fabric to wrap the infant after his first washing<ref>Likutei Diburim vol. 2, p. 225</ref>.

The bris milah was attended by several of the Maggid's greatest talmidim, including [[Menachem Mendel of Vitebsk|Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Vitebsk]] and [[Avraham of Kalisk (Talmid of the Maggid of Mezritch)|Rabbi Avraham of Kalisk]].

==== Education ====
The Alter Rebbe hired a special melamed (teacher) from among the Maggid's talmidim to teach his son Torah and guide his development<ref>The melamed from Liozna, the grandfather of R' Dovber son of R' Pesach the melamed. Sefer HaSichos 5710, p. 395.</ref>. An additional melamed was Reb Avraham of Liepli.

From his earliest years, his extraordinary intellectual abilities were readily apparent. He would engage in scholarly discussions and discourses with his father's senior followers. He had a tremendous aptitude for both the revealed aspects of Torah and the study of Chassidus; but notably he had a special interest in recording his observations of his father's holy practices. From childhood, he was known for his ability to write with exceptional speed and clarity.

==== Bar Mitzvah ====
His [[Bar Mitzvah]] celebration was such a special event that it drew chassidim from throughout the region<ref>A comprehensive and extensive description of the Bar Mitzvah of the Mitteler Rebbe was related by the Rebbe Rayatz on 25 Shevat 5696 (1936), during the Bar Mitzvah celebration of his grandson, B.G. The sicha was printed in Likutei Diburim vol. 2, p. 224b and onward in great detail.</ref>, despite the Alter Rebbe's general rule against chassidim visiting during Cheshvan and Kislev. The rule was suspended for this simcha.

On the Bar Mitzvah day - Thursday, 9 Kislev 5547 - candles were lit throughout the beis medrash courtyard, which was specially expanded for the many guests. During krias haTorah, while the Bar Mitzvah bochur didn't receive an aliyah, his father was called for shlishi and afterward recited "Boruch Sheptarani" with Shem uMalchus.

After davening, the Alter Rebbe delivered a maamar on the possuk "Ki lekach tov," followed by the Bar Mitzvah bochur's discourse on "Maggid d'vorov l'Yaakov." The Alter Rebbe entered a state of deep dveikus and began singing the [[Niggun Daled Bavos]].

==== Marriage ====
In 5548, at age 14, the Mitteler Rebbe was matched with Shaina, daughter of Reb Yaakov, a poor melamed from Yanowitz near [[Liozna]]. This shidduch came about when Shaina's father expressed concern to the Alter Rebbe about being unable to focus on his davening due to worry about marrying off his three daughters. The Alter Rebbe suggested his son as a match, knowing this would encourage other chassidim to seek shidduchim with the remaining daughters.

==== Guiding the Young Chassidim ====
In 1790, at age 16, he was appointed by his father to guide the young married men (yungeleit), both those who learned in the Rebbe's court and those who corresponded from their places of residence, and he engaged in this with great energy. It is told that once during a farbrengen with the young men, he spoke with such great emotion that it harmed his health, and he became ill for several days.

That same year, he also began serving as a "maniach" for his father, meaning he would remember and write down the maamarim that his father said. It should be noted that the holy Rav Rabbi Avraham of Kalisk wrote to the Alter Rebbe in a letter from 1798, "I am concerned for the offspring of father, namely his outstanding and distinguished son Rav Dov Ber, as your honor has placed him in a great test, like a ship in the heart of the sea, requiring great advocates to be saved from the trap of pride and haughtiness... and your honor has placed your son in this while he is still young in years and has no weapons of war, and where is the father's mercy on the son."